[1] D’Israeli’s Commentaries, II. 317, 318.
[2] D’Israeli’s Commentaries, II. 328.
[3] Vide Præf. ad partem secundam Whartoni Angliæ Sacræ, concerning this
tract.
[4] The Prior of Christ Church Canterbury, and his Monks, sixty-four in
number, were banished by King John, in 1207, on account of the opposition
which they made to his nomination of an Archbishop. Their places were
filled with Monks from the Monastery of St. Austin. After seven years’
banishment they were restored; £1000 was given them as a recompense for
all detriment, and they received a charter of Restitution.
[5] “Of the original,” says Sir Peter, “the fearmer weare partly
consumed, and the letters dimmed, and allmost worne out by time, the
devourer of all things. In which Booke I found contayned the principall
passages of affaires betweene the two kingdomes of England and
Fraunce under the reignes of King Edward the Third and King Henry the
ffifth.”... “Out of this I intreated a special friend to extract Certain
Disputations, &c.”... “It may be remarked that in the arguments employed
by the ambassadors of both countries, the circumstance of King of
England’s using the title and arms of France is particularly and minutely
discussed.”
[6] Suidas.
[7] See Warton’s History of English Poetry, vol. i. p. 256.
[8] From an address prefixed to the Satires, and from another prefixed
to the Certaine Poems, it is evident that they were intended for, if not
committed to, the Press. The former appear, from various allusions to
Marston’s Scourge of Villanie, published in 1598, to have been written
near that period. Probably they might be suppressed, in consequence
of the order towards the close of Elizabeth’s reign, signed by the
Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of London, that Marston’s
Pigmalion’s Image and Certaine Satyres, Hall’s Satires, Snarlinge
Satires, &c., should be burnt, and “that no Satyres or Epigrams be
printed hereafter.”
[9] In his History of English Poetry, vol. iii. p. 182, &c.
[10] As connected with this subject, a foot note may not unappropriately
be devoted to “Alexandri VII. Papæ, et Cardinalium Effigies per Joan.
Jacob. de Rubeis. Romæ, 1658,” folio. This volume being one of the many
curious and valuable presents made to their Library by Dr. John Bargrave,
of the Cathedral. He had been a great traveller, and lived chiefly in
Italy during Cromwell’s usurpation. On the margins and backs of the
engravings he has written many curious remarks from printed books and
manuscripts, and has added several pleasant and interesting anecdotes,
the fruits of his own observation. On the margin of the Pope’s picture
he has remarked that “this picture, and all the rest following are
extraordinarily like the persons, drawn and cut by excellent hands; I
knowing them all by sight (and some by discourse) as well as I knowe any
of my brethren the Canons of Chr. Church, Canterbury.” Dr. Bargrave’s
Cabinet of Antiquities and other Curiosities, together with an Account
of his Benefactions to the Library, in manuscript, is preserved in the
Library with due care.
[11] “Durham Cathedral as it was before the dissolution of the
Monastery,” edited by Dr. Chr. Hunter, Durham, 1733, pp. 92-96.
[12] Table Talk, i. 84-5.
[13] Cat. Codd. MSS. Dunelm. p. 204, and 210-14.
[14] Appendix in Cat. p. 430-5.
[15] Cat. Codd. MSS. Dunelm. p. 128-9.
[16] Ibid. p. 71.
[17] Antiq. Litt. Septentrion. p. 295.
[18] Among the Cottonian MSS. marked “Nero, D. IV.” Consult Raine’s St.
Cuthbert, pp. 34, 35, 46, 47, 78, and 229.
[19] Cat. Codd. MSS. Dunelm. pp. 18, 19.
[20] Ibid, pp. 3, 4, A. I. 3, and Raine’s St. Cuthbert, p. 131, where a
facsimile of one of the Initial letters is given.
[21] For some account of this Dr. Hunter, see _Nichols’ Literary
Anecdotes_, and _Surtees’ History of Durham_, iii.
[22] Some amusing literary chit-chat concerning this gentleman, the
productions of whose private press are familiar to most topographical
collectors, will be found in Nichols’ Literary Anecdotes.
[23] The copy of this Bible, which successively belonged to Tutet and
Bindley, is remarkable as being the identical copy which one Thornton,
by an artful counterfeit, sold to the Duke of Lauderdale, for seventeen
guineas, pretending that the Epistle to the Romans began with “Paul an
Kneawe,” &c. which, as Mr. Wanley has informed us, was effected by the
erasure of the true words, “the servaunt”—and the insertion of the false
reading, effacing also Matthew’s Preface, and all the dates except one,
of which he erased the numerals xvii. at the end of M.DXXXVII. whereby
the date stood thus, M.DXX. which is earlier than that of any English
Bible. As it does not appear the above false reading was ever printed, it
is not of much consequence, though noticed by _Lewis_, p. 47; _Cotton_,
p. 4; and by _Clarke_, p. 30. See also the _Bibliotheca Harleiana_, 1.
No. 154.
[24] The first edition of this version, was for many years the most
popular one in England, as its numerous editions may testify. After the
appearance of King James’s translation, the use of it seems to have
declined: yet a fondness for its notes still lingered; and we have
several instances of their being attached to editions of the royal
translation, one of which kind was printed so lately as 1715, but without
place or name of printer.[25]
From the peculiar rendering of the text in Genesis iii. 7, the editions
of this translation have been commonly known by the name of Breeches
Bibles.
The copy at Balliol College is an exceedingly fine one, printed upon
large paper. See _Cotton’s List_, p. 14, and Appendix.
[25] A copy of this edition is in the All Souls’ Library at Oxford.
[26] This may be accounted for, as there are at least seven different
editions bearing this date; one in black letter, one in Roman type, with
black lines round each page, and five others printed in the usual Roman
type, without the lines.
[27] This is the first edition of the new translation by Royal Authority,
made in the reign of James the First, and commonly called King James’s
Bible. Its rarity in a perfect state is very great, the engraved title
prefixed to the Work, being frequently wanting. To settle the controversy
respecting the genuineness of the text of the authorised version now in
use, this edition of the Bible has been literally reprinted with the
greatest care at the Oxford University Press.
[28] “This edition has been commonly reported to be by Sir John Cheke,
but upon what authority I know not: certain it is that he did translate
the Gospel of St. Matthew into English, a few verses of which were
printed by Strype in his Life of Sir John: but that translation varies
considerably from the present. Strype, after mentioning this proceeds
to say, ‘Cheke also translated the New Testament into English, with
Annotations; which was printed both in octavo and decimosexto, but this
last without the Notes; which copy Christopher Barker, Queen Elizabeth’s
printer, gave to the Company of Stationers, anno 1583, with some others,
for the relief of the poor of the said Company, &c. &c.’ p. 172, of the
Oxford edition, 1821.
“N.B. This account is not contained in the former edition of
1705.”—_Cotton List._ p. 10.
[29] A portion of this edition, beginning with the Epistle to the
Galatians, in the Christ Church Library, Oxford.
[30] This little volume is so rare and so curious as to merit more
particular description. The title which is supplied by manuscript runneth
thus:
“The Actes of the Apostles, translated into English meter, and dedicated
to the Kynge’s most excellent Majestye by Christofer Tye, Doctor in
Musyke, and one of the Gentlemen of hys Graces moste honourable Chappell,
with notes to eche Chapter, to synge, and also to play upon the Lute,
very necessarye for studentes after theyr studye to fyle theyr wyttes,
and also for all Christians that cannot synge to read the good and godlye
storyes of the lyves of Christ hys Appostles. 1553.” Then followeth the
Dedication. “To the vertuous and godlye learned Prynce Edwarde the VI.
by the Grace of God, King of Englande, France and Irelande, the Supreme
head, your grace’s humble lovynge, and obedient servaunte Christofer Tye
wysheth the continuance of God hys feare to dwell in your grace’s heart,
longe to reygne in muche honoure, healthe, wealthe, and victorye.”
Then followeth a metrical Preface, consisting of 25 stanzas, and
beginning thus:—
“Consydrynge well, most godly kyng,
The zeale and perfect love
Your Grace doth beare to eche good thyng
That geven is from above.
&c. &c.”
The text, with music for four voices, meane, tenour, counter-tenour,
bassus: beginneth in this wise.
“In the former Treatyse to thee
Dere frend The o phi lus
I have written the verite
Of the Lord Christ Jesus.
“Whiche he to do and eke to teache
Began until the daye
In whiche the Sprite vp hym did feache
To dwell above for aye.”
The concluding stanza of chapter the fourteenth and last runneth thus:
“Howe he the doore of fayth untyde,
The Gentyls in to call,
And there longe tyme they dyd abyde
With the disciples all.”
Hereafter followeth the Colophon:
“Imprinted at London by Nycolas Hyll for Wyllyam Seres.” “Cum privilegio
ad imprimendum solum.” This rare volume is a small duodecimo, printed
in black letter; but the present copy has unfortunately several leaves
supplied by Manuscript. It is in old calf-binding.
[31] This rare and beautiful volume is the first edition of the Genevan
version of the New Testament. It is also the first in which the verses
are distinguished. It is to be observed, that the translation differs
from that which three years afterwards was printed at the same place,
together with the Old Testament. This book is in a small and beautiful
Roman character, with the marginal Notes in a smaller Roman letter;
but the heads of the chapters and scripture references are in italics.
The verses are divided by figures as at present; and this is the first
edition in which such a division occurs. A full page contains 37 lines.
The title, ornamented by a neat wood-cut representing Time drawing Truth
from a cave, runneth thus: “The newe Testament of our Lord Jesus Christ,
conferred diligently with the Greke, and best approved translations. With
the arguments, aswel before the chapters as for every Boke & Epistle,
also diversities of readings, and moste proffitable annotations of all
harde places: wherunto is added a copious table.” “AT GENEVA, Printed by
Conrad Badius, M.DLVII.” On the reverse of the title appears “The order
of the bookes of the New Testament.” Then follows “An Epistle declaring
that Christ is the end of the Lawe by John Calvin,” occupying eight
leaves. The address “To the reader,” which follows upon two leaves,
is succeeded by “The argument of the Gospel,” one leaf. St. Matthew
and the other Evangelists, &c. occupy the leaves numbered from i. to
ccccxxx. The table and supputation of the years from Adam to Christ, fol.
ccccxxxi.–ccccli. On the last leaf is the Colophon. “PRINTED BY CONRAD
BADIUS,” “M.D.LVII. THIS X OF JUNE.” On the reverse are the Errata.
[32] This volume is usually attributed to Archbishop Parker, and its
rarity is so great that it has been generally maintained that the book
was not printed for sale, but that the few copies of it which are now
found were presents from the Archbishop to his friends. Copies are in the
Bodleian and other College Libraries.
[33] This volume has much the appearance of having been printed in
Holland. At the end of this edition of the Psalms is found “An Act for
a publique Thanksgiving to Almighty God every yeare on the fift daye of
November, enacted 5 Nov. 1605, composed into easie meeter, a songe meete
for yong and old.” This metrical Act of Parliament is inserted at full
length in the Appendix to Cotton’s List of Editions of the Bible, pp.
151-156.
[34] Printed as a specimen of this new Translation. There was also
another specimen, containing only the first eight Psalms, probably
printed a little before the present. Of this several passages differ,
both from the second specimen and the adopted version. Copies of each
are in the Bodleian; the earlier, a sheet and a half, has no title. The
whole version was licensed to be sung in churches, and the first edition
of it printed in the next year. It is to be observed that the version of
the specimen above recorded differs in many places from that which was
afterwards adopted, as may be seen in the Appendix to Cotton’s List of
Editions of the Bible, pp. 150, 151.
[35] See Wood’s Athenæ Oxonienses. Edit. 1815, 4to. vol. II. p. 474.
[36] Dr. Cotton remarks that “The book was probably printed either at
Paris or St. Germains. By the approbations prefixed, it appears that this
version was intended to supersede that in the Douay Bible, which was now
considered to be too antiquated for general use. It should be observed
that there are two kinds of title pages to the volume; some copies have
a vignette, for which in others a blank space is left. Some also are
without the errata at the end.” List of Editions, &c. p. 74.
[37] This first edition was afterwards much altered by its author. See a
specimen of it in Cotton’s List of Editions of the Bible. Appendix, pp.
148-9.
[38] The Evangelia Gothica Junii. Dordraci, 1615, 4to. Evangelia IV.
Armenicè. Amstelodami, 1698, 4to.: and the Gospels in Saxon and English,
by John Fox. London, 1571, 4to. may here claim appropriate notice.
[39] The archives of Lambeth Palace contain a curious Manuscript of
Caxton’s Chronicle, from Brute to the beginning of the reign of Henry
VI. in folio, preceded by a portrait of that monarch, and bearing at the
end the date of 1460, followed by these words: “An after that ther bred
a raven at Charyng Crosse at Londen. And never was seen noon brede there
before. And after that came a gret dethe of pestilence that lasted iij
yer. And peple dyed myhtely in every place, man woman and chylde. On
whose soulys God have mercy. Amen.”
The text of this Manuscript differs greatly from the Chronicle of
England, printed by Caxton in 1480, and is much more diffuse, but it
appears never to have been completed.
[40] Vide Hickesii Thesaurus Septentrionalis. II. 289.
[41] Thus.
[42] Thus.
[43] Thus.
[44] “This grand work was attended with most injurious consequences to
the learned author; it cost him the assiduous labour of seventeen years,
and ruined both his health and fortune.
“Some passages in his dedication to Charles II. most affectingly
represent the calamities he had endured; and which he appears to have
borne with most exemplary resignation. His library, household furniture,
and three hundred copies of the Lexicon perished in the fire of London.
‘Magna pars Bibliothecæ meæ, cum multâ supellectile et trecenis
Lexici Heptaglotti exemplaribus, in flammis periit Londinensibus.’
To this misfortune were added several private accidents, ‘membrorum
confractiones, luxationes, contusiones;’ and from incessant study an
almost total blindness, ‘oculorum lumen, perpetuis atque indefessis
vigiliis tantum non ademptum.’ The publication of his work procured him
no compensation for his large expenses, and his indefatigable diligence.
At the time of his death, in 1685, about five hundred copies were unsold;
these were placed by Mrs. Crisp, his niece and executrix, in a room of
one of her tenants’ houses in Surrey; where for many years they lay at
the mercy of the rats, who made such havoc among them, that when they
came into the possession of this lady’s executors, scarcely one complete
volume could be found out of the remainder, and the whole load of learned
rags only fetched seven pounds.”—_Clarke_, _Rep. Bibl._ pp. 33, 34.
[45] Of this valuable and highly interesting volume, the first-fruits
of an attempt to print the Scriptures in the English tongue, and the
chief cause of the persecution and subsequent death of the translator,
a single copy only was supposed to exist. Of the manner in which this
found its way into the Harleian Library, and of the value set upon it by
Lord Oxford and Mr. Ames, a short but interesting account is given in the
following extract from a letter preserved in the Bodleian Library. It is
in the handwriting of Ames, is addressed to Mr. George Ballard, and dated
Wapping, June 30, 1743. “I cannot forbear telling you of my good success
in buying at Lord Oxford’s sale the Phœnix of the whole library; I mean
the first English Testament that ever was printed in the year 1526. It
has been thought no perfect one was left from the flames. My lord was
so well pleased in being the possessor of it, that he gave the person
(Mr. John Murrey) he had it of, ten guineas, and settled an annuity of
twenty pounds a year during the person’s life, which is yet paid him. The
particulars are too many to commit to a letter; the old historians, and
Fox, give a good account of it.”
Herbert’s account, given in a note at p. 1535, may form a sequel to this:
“This first edition was in the possession of Mr. Ames, who bought it
for fifteen shillings out of the Harleian Library, No. 420, sold by T.
Osborne, 1743. Mr. John White purchased it for 15_l._ 4_s._ 6_d._ at the
auction of Mr. Ames’s books, No. 1252, sold by Langford, 1760, and sold
it for 21_l._ to Dr. Gifford, who at his decease bequeathed it, with many
others, to the Baptist Museum, Bristol.” Unfortunately this otherwise
perfect copy wants the title page.
“But it has been my fortune, in examining the Library of St. Paul’s
Cathedral, to discover a second copy. Unluckily it is imperfect, both at
the beginning and end; and its former owner, as if afraid of a second
Bishop Tonstall, has contrived most ingeniously to disguise and disfigure
it, by intermixing the leaves of the Gospels and Epistles with each other
in the strangest manner. The volume is in half-binding, lettered (for
what reason I know not) ‘Lant’s Testament.’ Surely it well deserves to
be carefully taken to pieces and examined: the deficient parts should be
supplied by a transcript from the Bristol copy, and inserted in their
proper places, lest an unhappy accident should deprive us of either of
them; the volume should then be rebound, and placed under lock and key,
and under the special superintendence of the librarian.”—_Cotton’s List
of Editions of the Bible, &c._ Oxford, 1821, pp. 1, 2.
The present state of this precious little tome will show that some of
these recommendations have already been adopted, and the following
collation may be acceptable to the inquiring bibliographer:—Title
wanting. Text fol. i.-cccliii. Address to the Reader, 3 pages. Errata,
3 pages. St. Matthew begins on folio i. St. Mark on folio xliii. b.
St. Luke on fol. lxxi. b. St. John on fol. __. Acts on fol. cliii. b.
Romans, on fol. cxcix. Ephesians on fol. ccliii. b. St. James, on cccxv.
and the Revelations on cccxxi. b. A full page contains 33 lines. The
signatures run in eights, and the folios are consecutively numbered.
There are no marginal notes, and no wood-cuts, except the initial
letters. The following words are thus spelt: “Corrinthyans, Romayns,
Galathyans, Collossyans, Tessalonyans, Hebrues.”
[46] In this address Tyndale complains heavily of George Joye, for
having in his previous impression of the same year, altered Tyndale’s
translation in many important instances, particularly in rejecting the
word resurrection, and, concealing his own name, still uttering it as
Tyndale’s genuine translation. He also gives at length the Colophon of
Joye’s edition, in order that it might be distinguished from his own.
[47] A copy of this book was bequeathed by Dr. Gifford to the Baptist
Museum at Bristol, and another was in the possession of the late Mr.
Herbert. “The copy in Exeter College, at Oxford, a very fine one, is
printed on yellow-stained paper. The British Museum has three copies, one
on white paper, one on yellow, and a third most splendidly printed on
vellum with illuminations. This last, formerly belonging to Anna Boleyn,
was bequeathed to the Museum by Mr. Cracherode.”—_Cotton’s List_, p. 3.
[48] Copies of this last edition are in the Archiepiscopal Library at
Lambeth, and in the Baptist Museum at Bristol.
[49] The Bridgewater copy of this Bible is printed upon yellow-stained
paper, an occurrence which Dr. Cotton has shewn to be by no means so
uncommon, as it has usually been considered. There are copies of this
Bible in the Bodleian, and in the Libraries of Christ Church, All Souls,
and Baliol, at Oxford. Mr. Bindley’s copy, formerly in the Harleian
Library, contains a remarkable but self evident forgery mentioned by
Lewis in his list of Editions of the Bible, p. 47.
[50] The present copy is wrongly lettered, 1553, and no mention whatever
is made of this edition in Dr. Cotton’s List of Editions of the Bible.
[51] The first edition of this translation, rarely found in a perfect
state. Of the six copies at Oxford, the Bodleian only is perfect.
It contains portraits, engraved on copper, of Queen Elizabeth, Lord
Leicester, and Secretary Cecil. For the difference between this edition
and the reprint of 1572, see the _Appendix to Cotton’s List of the
Editions of the Bible in English_, pp. 123-126.
[52] Willis’ Mitred Abbies in Leland’s Collectanea, 1774. VI. 145, &c.
[53] Willis’ Mitred Abbies in Leland’s Collectanea, VI. 154, ed. 1774.
[54] This interesting though brief Journal, was written by an Englishman
unknown, and was first published from the original manuscript in the
Hafod Library, by Mr. Blackwood at Edinburgh in 1818.
[55] The remaining Works of this learned Prelate contained in this
Library are, History of Impropriations, 1704, 8vo.; and of Ecclesiastical
Synods, 1701, 8vo.; and the Bibliothecæ Americanæ Primordia, London,
1718, 8vo.; to which may be added the Synodus Anglicana, edited by Bishop
Gibson, in 1701, 8vo.
[56] See Selden’s Preface to the Decem Scriptores, p. 46.
[57] In the beginning of the Book Mr. Austin has entered the
acknowledgment given upon that occasion in these words:
“I pray let this Scripture Book alone for he hath paid me for it, and
therefore I would desire you to let it alone. By me Henry Topclyffe
Souldier under Captain Cromwell, Colonel Cromwell’s son, therefore I pray
let it alone.”
“Unto which godly Warrant for its Security,” adds Dean Patrick, “the
fellow signed his name.”
The soldiers also destroyed the Records in the Chapter House, mistaking
them for Papal Bulls. “A short and true narrative of the Rifling and
defacing of the Cathedral Church of Peterburgh in the year 1643,” which
occupies pp. 333 to 340 in the Appendix to Gunton’s History of that
Church will amply repay perusal. Dean Patrick, the editor of that Work,
has devoted his Preface to a particular Account of “the Book called
Swapham,” and its reputed Author.
[58] See Britton’s Cathedrals, v. 5.
[59] In his Essay on the Mutability of Literature, in the first volume of
the Sketch Book. London, 1823, pp. 227-9.
[60] See Willis’s Mitred Abbeys in Leland’s Collectanea, VI. 118, 127.